Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
• A public-private partnership in Port Alfred could provide a sustainable model for healthcare in the province
High poverty levels and large rural areas that can be difficult to service are among the two biggest challenges confronting the healthcare sector in the Eastern Cape. While healthcare provision in cities ranges from adaquate to very good, backlogs in rural areas, particularly in the former homelands, need urgent attention. In 2007 it was estimated that there were more than 600 000 people in the Eastern Cape living with HIV and Aids. Incidence levels are high in the economically active group of people between the ages of 15 and 54. The province also has many tuberculosis patients
The total social development budget grew in 2009/10 by 3% to R1.4-billion, with nearly R5-billion to be spent over a five-year period. The Eastern Cape Department of Health has R11.3-billion at its disposal for the 2009/10 financial year. Nearly half of this budget is allocated to improving district health services, with the focus being on delivering primary healthcare through community clinics. It is further hoped that anti-poverty measures and provincial government efforts to roll out potable water and sanitation for rural areas will help improve general health.
New solutions
The private-hospital sector plays a significant role in the provision of healthcare in South Africa. Private hospitals treat approximately three million patients a year, with more than 1.5 million in-hospital admissions. Three companies dominate the private healthcare sector in South Africa: Medi-Clinic, Netcare and Life Healthcare. Together, they represent about 75% of the market.
Life Healthcare is particularly active in the province’s eastern regions, with four facilities in East London and others in Queenstown and King William’s Town. The East London hospitals offer specialist disciplines such as psychiatry (Life St Marks Clinic), cardiac and plastic surgery (East London Private Hospital) and trauma, maternity and oncology (Life St Dominic’s).
An interesting trend towards public-private partnerships is emerging in South Africa, and the Eastern Cape is a leader in this regard. The newly built Port Alfred Public Private Hospital represents a partnership between a private consortium led by Netcare, together with Nalithemba Hospitals and the Eastern Cape Department of Health. The 91-bed facility is run by the consortium: in addition to looking after the private wards, they provide the whole hospital with services such as gardening and catering. A similar arrangement governs the running of Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown, while Life Healthcare is in partnership with the provincial government at the hospital in Humansdorp.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Council for Medical Schemes: www.medicalschemes.com
Eastern Cape Department of Health: www.ecdoh.gov.za
Health Professions Council of South Africa: www.hpcsa.co.za
Health Systems Trust: www.hst.org.za
National Department of Health: www.doh.gov.za
South African Association of Hospital and Institutional Pharmacists: www.saahip.org.za
South African Medical Association: www.samedical.org
